The history of darTZeel and some of the highly distinctive and even globally patented technical solutions implemented in the devices of this Swiss luxury brand were previously explained in a detailed interview with the company's owner, Hervé Delétraz. However, practical experience with the preamp and power amplifier is at least as exciting.

I strongly recommend the reading of part one and two, as Delétraz's professional journey stands out from most owners of Hi-Fi or high-end companies: Even before deciding on a course of study, he was determined to develop audio electronics in the future, which, after some detours, worked out excellently - demonstrated by the stellar international reputation of darTZeel. Tech enthusiasts will find the considerations that led to his patented amplifier circuit intriguing, as well as the reasons for developing the darT to Zeel 50-ohm links (BNC) for line-level signals. Personally, I was charmed by Delétraz’s unpretentious description of his changing musical preferences over time and his unique selection of playback partners for his darTZeel electronics, both in the company and at home. Enjoyment of the music, instead of the slightest trace of audiophile conceit!

Before you suspect me of taking a too uncritical look at NHB-18NS and NHB-108 because of this positive bias, I can reassure you: This is more than offset by the design – or more specifically, the colour scheme – of the darTZeil enclosures. By contrast, the workmanship of the preamplifier and power amplifier is truly outstanding, even when you consider the price ranges in which they operate. The handles alone – actually a very useful feature considering the weight of the devices – could be a little more hand-flattering, at least on the inside. The fact that they protect the input and output jacks on the back and the controls on the front, which have been reduced to the essentials, makes just as much sense as the rubber rings in the buttons of the input selectors and the volume. The corresponding button is not trivially labelled ‘Volume’, but rather ‘Pleasure Control’, where you can choose between ‘Less’ and ‘More’ depending on the direction of rotation. Hervé Delétraz chose the abbreviations of the model name for his preamplifiers and power amplifiers with equal parts tongue-in-cheek – extreme self-confidence? – ‘NHB’ followed by a number or letter/number combination, where ‘NHB’ stands for ‘Never Heard Before’.